So last week the Reds debuted most of their new players: Torsten Frings, Danny Koevermans, Andy Iro, and Ryan Johnson to name a few. Unfortunately, the result wasn't any different as they fell at home to Brek Shea and FC Dallas. This weekend, they hit the road against Sporting KC, who has yet to lose at Livestrong Park. Could TFC improve?
Actually it looked like they were improving for awhile, especially on the offensive end. The delivery into Koevermans was markedly better than it was against Dallas. Koevermans got a great shot off at point blank range in the 3rd minute and forced Jimmy Nielsen into a great save to keep it scoreless early. Koevermans got another good shot off in the 9th minute that sailed just wide. TFC capped it off with some nice possession in the KC defensive third around the 23rd minute, but unfortunately had nothing to show for these chances.
Meanwhile, Sporting was finally getting their feet underneath them, and TFC started to make some mistakes at the back. Andy Iro doesn't really seem to be helping the situation much. Following a corner in the 28th minute, Kei Kamara hit a scissor kick volley into the back of the net to give Sporting a 1-0 lead. Great goal and a possible goal of the week. Kamara wasn't done though, just five minutes later he completed the brace by heading in a cross from Roger Espinoza to make it 2-0.
Toronto was reeling. They hadn't even really had the ball much since the 23rd minute, and Kamara had made them pay for some less than solid defense and marking. Omar Bravo added to their misery in the 37th minute by taking a through ball around Stefan Frei and putting in the net to give Sporting the 3-0 advantage at half time.
So the question became this: Would TFC fight back in the second half, or would they do what they usually do and whimper out in a blowout loss?
Fortunately for any neutral watching the match, Aron Winter mustered some energy in his troops at half time. Ryan Johnson came right out in the first minute, stole the ball and put a shot on target, forcing Nielsen into action again. Then, in the 50th minute, Koevermans got his first MLS goal as he headed a ball down and past Nielsen to make it 3-1 and give TFC some life. The next goal was going to be very important.
Well, the next goal came for Sporting KC, who were bound and determined to keep their good form going heading into the meat of the second half of the season. In the 64th minute Omar Bravo picked up his brace by knocking in a low centering pass from Chance Myers to make it 4-1 to Sporting.
Give Toronto some credit though, as they kept up the fight even after going down by three again. Ryan Johnson picked up his first goal for the club in the 72nd minute after taking the ball off of a KC defender and slotting it past Nielsen to make it 4-2. Toronto kept up the pressure somewhat through the last 15 minutes or so, but couldn't generate another goal and we finished at 4-2.
For KC, another 3 points sees them continuing to climb the ladder in the East. For TFC, they looked better offensively for sure, but the defense is going to have to get better to give Frei some protection in goal. I just don't think Iro is the answer here. We'll see I guess.
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